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The Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, tried hard to control her emotions while delivering a judgement in a case of culpable homicide against Stephen Jiya, who set his biological mother ablaze that resulted in her death.
She, however, sentenced him to death by hanging after he was found guilty of culpable homicide punishable under Section 221 of the penal code law, which attracts the death penalty.
Stephen Jiya was arraigned by the office of the Attorney General of the State Ministry of Justice for setting his mother, Mrs. Comfort Jiya, a retired director in the Niger State Ministry of Education, ablaze sometime in December 2021.
He was arraigned before Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik on September 14, 2022, while hearings into the case commenced on November 23, 2022.
Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, while analysing the case, pointed out that all the ingredients that indicated that the convict was responsible for the crime levelled against him were established by the prosecutor, and all the evidence and prosecuting witnesses who testified before the court were able to prove that the convict was responsible for the killing of his mother.
She said the prosection has proved its case against the defendant beyond every reasonable doubt, and she was convinced by all the testimonies of the prosecuting witnesses.
"On the whole, the prosection has proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt against the defendant, and I hereby find you, Stephen Jiya, guilty of the offence of culpable homicide, which is contrary to Section 221 of the penal code accordingly.
"In the circumstances, the sentence of the court upon you is that you should be hanged by the neck, electrocuted, executed, or injected with lethal injection until you are dead, and may the Lord have mercy on your soul," she added.
Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago, has called on participants in the 42nd edition of the Federation of Public Service Games Association (FEPSGA) to maintain the relationships built during the games.
The Governor, who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Alh. Abubakar Usman Gawu, made the declaration at the closing ceremony of the annual multi-sports event, held at the Bahago Sports Complex, Minna.
He observed that sports are a unifier and that a lot of relationships have been built through sports over the years, adding that Nigerians are more united through sports.
The governor also observed that in the spirit of the game, there are neither winners nor losers, as everyone who participated is a winner because what one does not gain in competition, he gains in participation.
While appreciating the FEPSGA President and his team for considering the state to host the 2023 edition of the games, the governor also expressed the readiness of the state to host the game again if given the chance.
He equally congratulated the entire FEPSGA team, as well as all the participants, for the successful completion of the event.
In his remarks earlier, the national president of FEPSGA, Mr. Aloku Amaebi, observed that Niger State has raised the bar for the organisation of the games and that it is a challenge for the next host if it is not Niger State again.
He appreciated the state government, under the leadership of Governor Umar Bago, for hosting the event and the warmth, reception, and hospitality accorded the FEPSGA officials and the entire participants throughout the 10-day multi-sports event.
Reacting to the protest by the football team of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over the use of ineligible players by the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) football team, the FEPSGA President urged the FAAN football team to exercise patience and allow the officials to handle the issue in the spirit of sportsmanship.
He assured that if their protest was investigated and it was found to be true that NPA used an ineligible player who is not a public servant, the team would be stripped of the medal and awarded to FAAN.
The NPA Football team clinched the football event trophy after beating the FAAN team by 5-4 through penalties as both teams played goalless at regulation time, while the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports team came in third, beating the Federal Mortgage Bank team via penalties by 4-3 after a goalless play at regulation time.
The Niger State contingent for the games won a total of 22 medals: eight golds, six silvers, and eight bronzes. The highlight of the event was the presentation of medals and trophies to the respective winners.
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